Pipestem

ABSTRACT

A pipestem having a moisture vent leading downward from a moisture trap formed in the smoke passage therein, to a grooved portion on the exterior of the stem. An absorbent member is applied externally to the stem over the outlet of the moisture vent within the groove.

1 United States Patent [72] Inventor William H. Strausser 5082 Parker. Apt. 9, Detroit, Mich. 48213 [21] Appl. No. 849.972 [22] Filed Aug. 14, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 12,1971

[54] PIPESTEM 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. C1 .f. 131/203, 131/198,131/204 [51] Int. Cl A241 5/06, A24f 13/04 [50] Field ofSearch 131/202, 203, 204, 219,198

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 379,585 3/1888 Mallinckrodt 131/204 679,079 7/1901 King 131/204X Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap ABSTRACT: A pipestem having a moisture vent leading downward from a moisture trap formed in the smoke passage therein, to a grooved portion on the exterior of the stem. An 1 absorbent member is applied externally to the stem over the I outlet of the moisture vent within the groove.

Pmwmmm. 3554.201

' INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. STRAUSSER xv mi, MMMM ATTORNEYS.

PIPESTEM BACKGROUND or THE I VENTION lipestems as heretofore constnrcted have been difficult to keep dry. Some of them have been built with internal means for trapping or absorbing moisture. Such intemal means often the moisture collecting device is located inside the pipestem.

. Examples of such prior art constructions may be found in the following US. Pats. Nos.:

Elam 921,527

Kostarno 2,163,432

' Torres 2,100,093

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved pipestem having means for dealing with the problems of moisture and sludge in order to maintainthe smoke passage substantially dry atalltimesf Another object of this invention is to 1 provide a pipestem having means for collecting saliva fromthepipestem, such collecting means being located externally rather than internally of the pipestem. I I

Another object is to provide a pipe having a moisture vent leading downward from the smoke passage and means applied externally to the pipestem over the outletof the vent for collecting moisture.

Another object is to provide a pipe in which the means applied over the pipestem to collect moisture preferably comprises a nonperforated flexible strip wrapped around the pipestem and preferably having a moisture absorbing pad over the moisture vent outlet.

Another object is to provide the smoke passage in the pipestem with a well or trap in the smoke passage over the moisture vent preferably separated from the tobacco bowl by a barrier wall to prevent saliva in the pipestem from entering the tobacco bowl and thus forming'sludge.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pipe constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail plan view of a strip having an absorbent pad which is wrapped around the stem of the pipe.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a modified pipestem in longitudinal section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and especially to FIG. 1, the pipe there shown is generally designated by the reference numeral and comprises a tobacco bowl 12 I and a pipestem 14. The bowl 12 has a tubular shank 16 extending laterallyoutwardly from the lower portion of the bowl. The passage 18 in the shankcommunicates with the bottom of the tobacco bowl.

The stem is a straightstem having a mouthpiece 20 at one end and having its opposite end reduced in diameter as indicated at 22 to fit removably within the end 24 of the shank.. The smoke passage 26 in the pipestem extends from end to end of the stem and communicates with the passage 18 in the shank.

The smoke passage 26 enlarges gradually from the mouthpiece toward the bowl 12 because of the downward incline of the bottom wall of the passage, forming a cavity or well or'trap 28. Saliva which may be present in the pipestem will tend to run toward or settle in the trap portion of the smoke passage. A moisture vent 30 in the pipestem extends downwardly from the trap at an' inclination toward the bowl end of the pipe and has an outlet opening through the exterior wall of the stem. The end of the moisture 1m 28 ad'acent the shank 18 Is defined by a barrier wall 35 which extends downwardly at an inclination toward the bowl end of the pipe. Preferably this wall extends in continuation of the moisture vent 30 and at substantially the same angle as the moisture vent so as to direct moisture in the trap downwardly through the vent.

The external surface of .the pipestem has an annular groove I 34. The moisture vent30 has its outlet opening into this groove.

A' flexible preferably nonperforated strip 36 of tape or the like is wrapped around the stem of the pipe in the groove and preferably has a moisture absorbing pad 38 secured to its inner surface and covering the outletflo f the moisture vent 30 so as to collect moisture. This strip may be similar to an ordinary adhesive bandage of the type used to cover a cut on the finger, in which the opposite ends of the strip have adhesive applied to the inner surfaces. The strip thus is preferably held on by its own adhesive similar to a postage stamp and may be readily peeled away and disposed of periodically and replaced by another clean strip having a dry'moisture absorbing pad.

The strip 36 is applied externally tojthepipe and is therefore .very readily removed and replaced. The pipe does not have to be taken apart by removing the stem from the bowl. Since the moisture pad is on the outside of the stem the atmosphere within the smoke passage may be substantially kept dry at all times. The trap 28 causes saliva to move in a direction toward the vent 30 so that it will not accumulate within the smoke passage but will be quickly discharged to the exterior of the stem. The barrier wall 32 will prevent moisture which is moving toward the vent 30 from entering the tobacco bowl and thereby become foul and rancid and sludge. forming. lt may be necessary however to clean the accumulation of nicotine, tars, carbon, etc. from the smoke passage in the bowl shank along with any natural moisture that is in the tobacco. It will also be desirable to keep the stem hygienically sweet by using a commercial formula pipe sweetener. 7

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the pipestem in which similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals. The principal difference in the FIG. 5 construction is that the pipestem is of the bent or down-curved type rather than straight as in FIG. 1. Otherwise, the construction in FIG. 5 is like that of FIG. 1.

bowl, a moisture vent in said stern extending downward from I said smoke passage and having an outlet through the exterior surface of said stern, means applied to the exterior surface of said stem over said outlet to collect moisture from said vent means providing a moisture trap at and ever said vent and a barrier wall between said trap and said bowl to prevent saliva from reaching said bowl.

2. The pipe defined in claim 1. wherein said means comprises a moisture absorbent pad covering said outlet.

3. The pipe defined in claim I, wherein said means comprises a flexible strip surrounding said stem.

4. The pipe defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a flexible strip surrounding said stem and having a moisture absorbent pad covering said outlet.

5. The pipe defined in claim 4, wherein said exterior surface of said stem has an annular groove through which said outlet opens, and said strip is disposed in said groove. 

1. A smoker''s pipe having a tobacco bowl generally vertical, a stem extending laterally from the lower portion of said bowl, said stem having a smoke passage communicating with said bowl, a moisture vent in said stem extending downward from said smoke passage and having an outlet through the exterior surface of said stem, means applied to the exterior surface of said stem over said outlet to collect moisture from said vent means providing a moisture trap at and over said vent and a barrier wall between said trap and said bowl to prevent saliva from reaching said bowl.
 2. The pipe defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a moisture absorbent pad covering said outlet.
 3. The pipe defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a flexible strip surrounding said stem.
 4. The pipe defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a flexible strip surrounding said stem and having a moisture absorbent pad covering said outlet.
 5. The pipe defined in claim 4, wherein said exterior surface of said stem has an annular groove through which said outlet opens, and said strip is disposed in said groove. 